Jude 3 Project

What happens when we create space to ASK the hard questions about Christianity, especially through the lens of Black history, culture, politics, and lived experience?

As part of the Jude 3 Project’s ASK Initiative, this powerful conversation at Morehouse College brings together voices willing to engage some of the most challenging questions surrounding Christianity, Black identity, history, culture, and scripture.

They explore:

• Is Christianity good for Black people?
• What was Christianity’s presence in Africa before the transatlantic slave trade?
• How do we separate biblical Christianity from the ways Christianity has been misused to justify oppression?
• What does Scripture actually say about the role and value of women?

The ASK Initiative is about creating space for young adults to ask honest questions, challenge assumptions, and engage faith thoughtfully and biblically.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

"The next generation doesn't care about God."

That's a narrative we hear all the time. But what if it's not true?

In this episode of the Jude 3 Project Podcast, Lisa Fields sits down with Ethan, a 14-year-old apologist and Jude 3 Project intern whose passion for Jesus is challenging the assumptions many people have about Gen Z.

From wrestling with depression and suicidal thoughts to boldly sharing the gospel with his peers, Ethan shares how God has transformed his life and why he believes today's teens are asking deeper spiritual questions than many adults realize. 

Whether you're a teen or adult, if you've ever wondered...

• Can I question God and still have faith?
• Can I be truly honest with God?
• Where is God when life falls apart?
• How do I know Christianity is actually true?
• Why does repentance matter?
• Can God really use someone my age?

...this conversation is for you.

This isn't just a conversation about teenagers. It's a reminder that God is still raising up bold disciples in every generation.

Grab your own copy of Jude 3 Project's teen-centered curriculum, "Faith That Makes Sense", at https://jude3project.org/shop

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

In this special episode, Lisa Fields sits down with preacher, author, and podcaster Brenda Palmer for a deeply honest conversation about church hurt, betrayal, healing, and learning to trust God when the people you trusted let you down.

Together they explore:

• Navigating moral failure within church leadership
• Why accountability matters
• The difficult journey of forgiveness
• Why social media isn't the best place to process your pain
• How forgiveness protects your heart without excusing wrongdoing
• Learning to trust God even when leaders fail
• Why healing is a process, not a moment
• What it looks like to separate God's character from the failures of His people

For more, grab Lisa Fields' book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

When we hear about pastors falling, we often focus on the scandal. But what if the warning signs were there long before the headlines?

In this eye-opening conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with author and CEO of Whole Brother Mission, Dr. Maliek Blade to unpack the complex relationship between personality disorders, emotional health, spiritual authority, and church leadership.

Together, they explore:

• Why the word "narcissist" is often misused—and when it actually applies
• The difference between narcissistic traits and Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• How emotionally unhealthy leaders create spiritually unhealthy churches
• Why gifted preaching can hide destructive character
• How untreated mental health issues can lead to spiritual malpractice
• Why churches reward charisma instead of emotional maturity
• What healthy accountability should actually look like

This conversation isn't about diagnosing people from a distance. It's about giving Christians the wisdom to recognize unhealthy leadership, protect vulnerable people, and build churches that reflect the character of Christ.

For more, grab @lisavfields book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

 

What happens when the people who helped shape your faith become the very people who wound it?

In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with Rev. Dr. Brianna K. Parker to discuss the reality of church hurt, leadership failures, betrayal, and the difficult question many believers are asking: Is it still worth staying?

Rather than offering easy answers, they explore what it looks like to pursue healing instead of bitterness, why social media often rewards outrage over restoration, and how to hold onto Jesus when people let you down.

In this episode, you'll hear about:
• Why church hurt doesn't have to define your faith
• The difference between accountability and revenge
• Why healing is harder—and more valuable—than building an identity around pain
• How to discern whether it's time to stay, leave, or simply let go
• What faithfulness looks like in a culture obsessed with calling people out

For more, grab @lisavfields book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

Church scandals don't just make headlines—they shape how entire generations view faith, leadership, and the Church itself.

Why do older and younger Christians often respond so differently when pastors fall? What does true accountability actually look like? And can the Church pursue both justice and restoration without sacrificing either?

In this episode, Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. Cynthia James for a thoughtful conversation on the growing trust gap between generations, the impact of pastoral failures, independent accountability, trauma-informed care, and why rebuilding credibility requires more than public apologies.

Whether you've wrestled with disappointment in church leadership, wondered how restoration should work, or simply want to better understand today's conversations around faith and integrity, this episode offers wisdom, nuance, and hope.

For more, grab @lisavfields book “When Heroes Fall" here: https://lisavfields.com/when-heroes-fall/ or wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

Lisa Fields and Dr. Vincent Bacote wrestle with one of Christianity's most uncomfortable questions: what do you do when one of your heroes is racist?

Using Abraham Kuyper as a case study, Dr. Bacote shares how discovering the theologian's racist writings forced him to wrestle with whether profound theological insights can be separated from serious moral failures.

Together, they examine:

• Why we put Christian leaders on pedestals
• The psychology behind the "halo effect"
• How hero worship fuels disappointment and cancel culture
• Whether we should reject everything a fallen leader taught
• Why Jesus—not any pastor, theologian, or celebrity—is the only perfect hero

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

 

In this honest conversation, Lisa Fields sits down with Dr. Esau McCaulley to discuss the difficult reality of fallen leaders, public scandals, and the impact they have on those who looked up to them.

Drawing from Lisa's book When Heroes Fall, they explore what Scripture teaches about accountability, grace, trauma, healing, and the danger of confusing gifting with character. Together, they wrestle with questions many believers face:

• Can someone do genuine good and still cause great harm?
• How should Christians respond when trusted leaders fail?
• What does biblical accountability actually look like?
• How do we process disappointment without losing our faith?

This conversation offers a thoughtful framework for navigating grief, disillusionment, and healing while keeping our eyes fixed on Christ—not human heroes.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

When a leader falls, why does it affect us so deeply?

Lisa Fields sits down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Stacie Otey Scott to unpack the emotional, spiritual, and psychological impact of hero failure. Together, they explore how unresolved trauma, misplaced expectations, and unhealed wounds can shape the way we respond when people we admire disappoint us.

From forgiveness and accountability to restoration and healing, this episode offers practical wisdom for anyone struggling with betrayal, church hurt, broken relationships, or the fallout of a fallen hero.

Together they unpack:
• Why we place people on pedestals
• How trauma influences our reactions to disappointment
• The difference between accountability and punishment
• Why forgiveness is essential for healing
• How unresolved pain can shape future relationships
• What true restoration really looks like

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/

What do young people really think about Christianity?

At Jackson State University, Jude 3 Project's ASK Initiative brought students and scholars together for an honest conversation about faith, doubt, suffering, sexuality, science, church hurt, and the reliability of the Bible. No question was off limits.

Featuring Lisa Fields, Dr. Quonekuia Day, and Damon Richardson, this discussion creates space for the questions many people are asking but few are willing to discuss openly.

Whether you're wrestling with faith, exploring Christianity, or looking for thoughtful answers to difficult questions, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations that help you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Support the mission and vision of Jude 3 Project here: https://www.jude3project.org/donate

Grab our curriculum here: https://www.jude3project.org

Take an online course that will help you know what you believe and why here: https://learn.jude3project.org/library/